Chinese-American Objects to Monterey Park Mayor’s Claims

I am a Chinese-American who strongly objects to the alarmist and racist remarks made by Monterey Park Mayor Barry Hatch.

In a May 27 article, he claims that the “the race of the Chinese has over a billion people and they’re looking for a soft place to land . . . the whole (San Gabriel) Valley is what they want. . . . “

Wouldn’t most people in the world want to live in a free country? The mayor has no right to malign a race of people just because their culture is foreign to “Americans.” We are Americans of all races and cultures trying to make a life for ourselves.

Recent immigrants take time to assimilate and what the mayor says does nothing more than inflame racist attitudes. It is unfortunate that a public official can be so insensitive and ignorant of different cultural values.

Let’s stop the immature pettiness and embrace everyone, no matter what race or culture, into the American mainstream. America will be a much wiser and stronger country if we all work together. Of all the people in the United States, I think that the American Indian (the original “Americans”) are the ones who should feel like a “stranger in their own country.”

BARKLEY LEE

Monterey Park